Treatment of artificial silk



May 11, 1937. w, BAKKER 2,080,193

TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed Jan. 21, 1936 Patented May 11, 1937TREATMENT or ARTIFICIAL SILK Willem Bakker, Arnhem, Netherlands,assiznor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 21-, 1936, Serial No. 60,110

In Germany February 5, 1935 8 Claims. (01. 117-2) This invention relatesto the moistening of artificial silk threads, especially of the typemade by dry methods, and has particular reference to the application offluids to the running strand of such thread in a twisting machine priorto being collected on the twisting spool.

Various methods and devices havebeen employed up to the present time forapplying treating fluids to artifical silk threads while being twistedin twisting machines, but for one reason or another none of thesemethodsor devices have been found satisfactory. For example, it has apparatusshould be avoided, particularly in the manufacture of artificial silk.

It is also common practice to draw the threads to be treated over awick, pad, or similar device which is saturated with the desired fluid.Such arrangements, however, are also unsatisfactory, as the threadsfrequently do not take up or absorb a uniform quantity of fluid, and inaddition,

- \where suflicient wick surface is employed to assure a thoroughsaturation of the thread, the tension on the thread is usually greaterthan has been found desirable for threads of the kind referred toherein.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for applying treating fluid to artificial silk threads inregulated amounts and in such a manner that the threads are evenlysaturated on all sides. A' further object of the invention is toeliminate excessive tension on the thread and to diminish the size ofthe fluid contact area while at the sametime obtaining a uniformlyandthoroughly saturated product, and a still further object of theinvention is the provision of an apparatus which is capable ofaccomplishing these purposes and is relatively simple and compact inconstruction and does not interfere with the twisting operation in anyway, as by interfering with visibility of the machine or any partthereof.

' The invention generally comprises a substantially horizontalmoistening pipe to which the treating liquid is conducted in controlledamounts and which is provided with a plurality of apertures at spacedpoints along the length thereof. These apertures connect the interior ofthe pipe with a multiplicity of annular grooves in the periphery of thepipe which not only convey the treating liquid a predetermined distance,de- 5 pending upon the position of the apertures in the .pipe, but alsoact as guides for the threads passing to the twisting devices.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be obtained byreferring to the accom- 1o panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view of the essential and associated parts constituting theinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of 15 the moistening deviceand drain taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged section of a portion of the moistening pipetaken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure l, i ll represents a relatively thick walled pipepositioned intermediately of the winding spools II and the twistingbobbins I2 and serving to apply treating fluid to the threads I3 as theypass downwardly in contact therewith. Pipe 10 is provided with aplurality of annular 25 grooves H, i. e. one for each thread whichpasses by the'pipe, and these grooves not only act as guides for thethreads, but also constitute passageways or furrows for conducting thetreating liquid along the threads a relatively short dis- 30 tance andfinally conveying it down'to the lower side of pipe it where it isdischarged by suitable pegs or pins IS. A pump I6 is adapted to supplythe treating fluid to pipe H) from any suitable source, such as thesupply tank II, the fluid being preferably sucked upwardly through pipel8 and forced through pipes l9 and 20 to the filter 2|. .From the filterit passes through pipe 22 and a plurality of pipes 23 extendingdownwardly from pipe 22 and connecting this pipe with'mois- 4o teningpipe ID at longitudinally spaced points. The liquid flows out of pipe l0through the apertures 24 whichare located at about the middle portion ofthe side of pipe I0, as shown in Figure 2, and connect the interior ofthe pipe with the 45 pipe may be returned directly to tank l'l if,Figure 3).

desired.

A uniform flow through the system and espccially through apertures 26 isobtained by means of the check valve 32 which is adapted toautomatically control the amount of fluid passing through the system byvarying, in accordance with the various pressures encountered, the

quantity of fluid returned directly to tank I! through the by-pass pipe33. Uniform flow through apertures 24 is also effected by arranging pipeIt in a horizontal position and providing' valves 34 for regulating thelevel of the liquid in the pipe.

It is also possible to vary the distance 35 (Figure 2) which the threadstravel through the fluid streams emanating from apertures 24 by rotatingpipe I0 about its own longitudinal axis, thereby raising or loweringapertures 24 with respect to the line of thread contact. This may alsobe accomplished by changing the relative positions of the thread guides36 and 31 with respect to pipe l0. These adjustments as well as theregulation of fluid flow are highly important, as it is otherwiseexceedingly diflicult to obtain threads which are uniformly treated tothe desired degree.

In operation, the pump is first started, causing the treating fluid tocirculate through-the system. During starting the suction of fluid upthrough pipe I8 is facilitated by pouring a quantity of the fluid intothe funnel 38 located at the upper end of pipe l8, and after thuspriming, the valve 39 is closed to prevent loss of fluid. The threadsiii are then led downwardly from the winding spools I! through guides36, over apertures 24 in pipe I!) and through guides 31 to the twistingbobbins.

The invention not only has the advantage of being exceedingly simple inconstruction, this being particularly true of that portion of it whichis directly associated or in contact with the twisting mechanisms, butit also is capable of uniformly impregnating or treating artificial silkthreads on all sides and with amounts which may be regulated accordingto the inherent capacity of the thread to take up or absorb the treatingfluid. It is to be observed that the apertures 24 are considerablylarger in diameter than the diameter of the threads, so that the fluidreadily covers and impregnates the thread on its entire surface (seeMoreover excessive tension on the threads is avoided, and thiseliminates numerous undesirable results in the treated material.

The apparatus is adapted for all kinds of moistening operations,including such methods as brightening, sizing and dyeing, and may beemployed to apply all kinds of fluids to the threads, including water,soap solutions, oil emulsions,

drying and non-drying oils, and solutions of starch, gelatine and glueas well as solutions of dyestuffs and numerous other solutions,emulsions, and suspensions. The circulation of the fluid mixturesthrough the system and moistening pipe, which extends the entire lengthof the twisting machine, and the return of fluid to the supply tanktends to maintain the mixture uniform over a long period of time.

Although the invention has been found most effective in the treatment ofacetate silk threads and in combination with twisting machines commonlyused in the-manufacture ofsuch threads, it is to be understood that itis generally useful for treating all kinds of artificial silk threadsregardless-of the method of manufacture. Furthermore, the size and shapeof the grooves may be varied, and if desired more than one aperture maybe associated with each groove, the arrangement shown and describedherein being merely the preferred form of the invention.

I claim:-

1. In combination with a twisting apparatus for artificial silk threads,a moistening device comprising a rotatably adjustable and substantiallyhorizontal pipe having a plurality of annular grooves the spaced pointsfor guiding the threads to the twisting apparatus and a plurality ofapertures associated with the grooves and in substantially the middleportion of the side of the pipe, the apertures serving to conduct fluidfrom the interior of the pipe to moisten the threads contacting thegrooves.

2. In combination with a twisting apparatus for artificial silk threads,a moistcning device comprising a substantially horizontal pipe having aplurality of annular grooves for guiding the threads to the twistingapparatus and a plurality of apertures for connecting the interior ofthe pipe with the grooves, the apertures being larger 3. In combinationwith a twisting apparatus 7 for artificial silk threads, a moisteningdevice comprising a substantially horizontal pipe extending the lengthof the twisting apparatus and having a plurality of annular grooves andan equal number of apertures for conveying moistening fluid from theinterior of the pipe to the grooves, each groove having a pin extendingdownwardly from the lower portion of the pipe and serving to dischargefluid from the groove.

4. In combination with devices for twisting artificial silk thread, amoistcning system comprising a pipe having annular grooves for guidingthe threads to the twisting device and apertures therein for supplyingtreating fluid directly to the threads, means for regulating thequantity of fluid supplied to the pipe, and means for maintaining auniform level of fluid throughout the length of the pipe.

5. In combination with devices for twistin artificial silk threads, amoistening system comprising a pipe for supplying treating fluiddirectly to a plurality of moving threads, means for forcing the fluidthrough the system in a circulatory manner, means for regulating thequantity of fluid supplied to the threads, and means for priming thefluid forcing means during initial circulation of the fluid.

6. In combination with an apparatus for twisting artificial silkthreads, a circulatory moistening system comprising a source of fluidsupply, means for forcing the fluid through the system, a pipe forconveying fluid directly to the threads, means for regulating the rateof flow through the pipe, and means for returning the fluid from thepipe to the source of supply.

'7. In combination with devices for twistin 8. In combination withdevices for twisting artificial silk threads, a system for moisteningthe moving strands during the twisting operation comprising means forforcing treating fluid through the system at a predetermined rate offlow and a substantially horizontal pipe having a plurality of aperturesfor conveying the fluid from the interior of the pipe into contact withthe threads passing thereover, the pipe being rotatable to vary thedistance which the threads travel through the fluid.

WIILEM BAKKER.

